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ICT apprenticeship programme

The ICT Communication Technology (ICT) Apprenticeship programme was developed to provide young people with the skills and experience required to take up new opportunities in ICT.

Applications closed

The closing date for applications for the current programme was 5.00 pm on Friday 31 August 2012 but details of the programme are provided below for your information.

What is the ICT apprenticeship programme?

The ICT sector is recognised as vitally important in supporting and ensuring the growth of the Northern Ireland economy. This sector includes companies involved in software development and engineering, systems design and development, web design, technical support and telecommunications.

The ICT apprenticeship programme is a joint initiative between government and local ICT companies. It aims to support the growth and expansion of the sector by recruiting and employing apprentices in various software development and IT infrastructure roles.

The apprentices will be employed in one of the participating organisations and receive a wage while also undertaking training in Level 3 ApprenticeshipsNI frameworks for ICT.

Those successfully employed as ICT Apprentices on this programme will be released from the workplace one day a week to receive their training at Belfast Metropolitan College and will receive training tailored to their needs depending on whether they are successfully employed in a software development or IT infrastructure role in one of the participating organisations.

Participating organisations include:

Who can apply?

Experience is not required but applicants must possess a minimum of 5 GCSEs of grade C or above, including English and Mathematics, and a pass at A level in any subject area or an equivalent qualification in any discipline.

Initial application

Applications are welcome from those who meet the criteria irrespective of religious belief, political opinion, age, sexual orientation, disability, race, marital status, gender or whether or not you have dependants and are a woman returning to work.

  • the closing date for applications was 5.00 pm on Friday 31 August 2012

Selection process

The programme has a multiple stage selection process:

  • eligible applicants were invited to complete an online aptitude test between Friday 17 August 2012 – Monday 3 September 2012
  • the 200 candidates with the best scores in the online aptitude test will then be invited to sit a supervised aptitude test that will be held in the Greater Belfast Area on Thursday 13 September and Friday 14 September 2012
  • the highest scoring candidates in the online and supervised aptitude tests will then be advised to apply to the participating companies. If candidates are invited to sit an interview these will take place in early October 2012
  • after the completion of interviews the participating organisations will then make offers of employment to the candidates they wish to recruit

Start date

Successful candidates employed as apprentices in the participating organisations will begin on 19 November 2012.

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